Pazzia

Puglia Vermentino

9.1

Pazzia – Vermentino – Puglia, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
A refreshing take on 100% Vermentino from southern Italy. While the grape is most closely associated with Sardinia and the Tuscan coast, this Puglian expression highlights a slightly different personality, less broad than expected, yet beautifully crisp, mineral-driven, and remarkably balanced. An excellent reminder that great Vermentino isn’t confined to its most famous homes.

Aromas & Flavors
Fresh lemon zest, green apple, white peach, Mediterranean herbs, and delicate white flowers mingle with subtle saline and stony mineral notes. The palate is clean, vibrant, and wonderfully refreshing, finishing with a gentle citrus lift.

Mouthfeel
Light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a sleek, dry texture. The balance between freshness, fruit, and minerality is seamless, making every sip effortless and inviting.

Food Pairings
Outstanding with grilled shrimp, oysters, calamari, seafood pasta, grilled vegetables, lemon chicken, or simply enjoyed as an aperitif on a warm afternoon.

Verdict
An unexpectedly impressive Vermentino that overdelivers for its style and price. Bright, elegant, and refreshingly mineral, it proves Puglia can produce expressive white wines well beyond the region’s red wine reputation.

Did You Know?
Although Vermentino is strongly associated with Sardinia and the Tuscan coast, it is also cultivated throughout several Mediterranean regions of Italy. Puglia’s warm climate often gives the grape a slightly riper profile, yet skilled producers can still preserve the vibrant acidity and mineral freshness that make Vermentino so appealing.

🍷 Personal Pick
This was my very first Vermentino from Puglia, and I honestly wasn’t expecting it to impress me this much. I usually gravitate toward Sardinian or Tuscan examples, but this bottle reminded me why stepping outside our comfort zone is so rewarding. A delicious discovery that I’d happily pour again, and one I’ll definitely mention when teaching about Italy’s diverse white wines. — 7 days ago

Ted, Daniel and 2 others liked this

Terre di Sava

Pazzia Primitivo di Manduria

Sean Sims

9.0

Probably my new best favorite Italian wine. Fruit forward, explodes in your mouth. — 2 years ago

Pazzia

Salento Chardonnay 2025

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Pazzia Chardonnay Salento IGP 2025
Puglia – Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
Crafted from 100% Chardonnay, this distinctive white wine from the hot and sun-drenched Salento area of Puglia delivers a surprisingly crisp and tension-driven interpretation of the grape. Produced by Cantine San Marzano and made as a Kosher, non-Mevushal wine, it balances Mediterranean ripeness with a remarkably dry and refreshing profile. The dry microclimate and reflective soils of southern Puglia contribute intensity while preserving freshness.

Aromas & Flavors
Bright citrus, lemon peel, green apple, and subtle tropical notes emerge first, followed by delicate Mediterranean herbs and light mineral accents. There is no excessive oak influence here — the wine stays focused on freshness, purity, and clean fruit expression.

Mouthfeel
Bone dry, crisp, and energetic. The palate is refreshing with lifted acidity and a saline-driven finish that keeps the wine vibrant and highly drinkable. Leaner in texture than many international Chardonnay styles, yet still flavorful and expressive.

Food Pairings
Excellent with grilled fish, Mediterranean salads, kosher poultry dishes, seafood pasta, fresh mozzarella, sushi, or light vegetable antipasti. Also works beautifully as an aperitif in warm weather.

Verdict
A surprisingly compelling Chardonnay that showcases a fresher and more restrained side of southern Italy. Distinctive, refreshing, and terroir-driven without relying on oak or heaviness. A great example of how Puglia can produce whites with both character and tension despite its warm climate.

Did You Know?
“Mevushal” wines are flash-heated under kosher winemaking rules, allowing them to remain kosher even when served by non-observant staff. Non-Mevushal wines like this one avoid that heating process, often preserving more delicate aromatic and textural nuances.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is the kind of Chardonnay that catches people off guard, southern Italy, kosher, bone dry, and refreshingly sharp all at once. Very distinctive and dangerously easy to keep sipping. Cheers! — a month ago